Hydrangea plant named ‘Sidashar’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hydrangea  cultivar named ‘Sidashar’ is disclosed, characterized by pink flowers with a creamy white center. The new variety is a  Hydrangea,  and naturally blooms from April through September.

Latin name of the genus and species: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Variety denomination: ‘Sidashar’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The intent of this breeding program is to produce stronger pot plant varieties with attractive flower colors. The new variety was discovered as a seedling within the planned breeding program. This seedling is a result from the crossing of the female parent, an undistributed proprietary variety referred to as 9503 with the male parent, an undistributed proprietary variety referred to as 9742. The crossing was made by the inventor; Daniel van der Spek in the summer of 1999. ‘Sidashar’ was selected by Daniel van der Spek in May of 2001 in Nootdorp, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Sidashar’ by vegetative cuttings was performed in Nootdorp, The Netherlands and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type through 6 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Sidashar’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sidashar’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sidashar’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea cultivar:

-   -   1. Large, round mophead inflorescence;     -   2. Unique petal coloration of coral pink with a creamy white         center;     -   3. Dark green foliage;     -   4. Strong plant, resisting breaking in production and         post-harvest situations.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Sidashar’ are similar to plants of the female parent, ‘9503’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘Sidashar’ differ from ‘9503’ in the following characteristics;

-   -   1. Foliage color of ‘Sidashar’ is green whereas ‘9503’ is green         with purple margins.     -   2. ‘Sidashar’ has more flowers per inflorescence.     -   3. ‘Sidashar’ has a wider inflorescence.     -   4. ‘Sidashar’ has a deeper inflorescence.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Sidashar’ are similar to plants of the male parent, ‘9742’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘Sidashar’ differ from ‘9742’ in the following characteristics;

-   -   1. Flower color of ‘Sidashar’ is coral pink with a white center         whereas ‘9742’ has solid pink flowers.     -   2. ‘Sidashar’ is a taller plant.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Sidashar’ are similar to plants of the commercial variety ‘Paris Rapa,’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,906. However, plants of the new cultivar ‘Sidashar’ differ from ‘Paris Rapa’ in the following characteristics;

-   -   1. Foliage of ‘Sidashar’ is much more resistant to stress than         ‘Paris Rapa’.     -   2. ‘Sidashar’ has a wider inflorescence than ‘Paris Rapa’.     -   3. ‘Sidashar’ flowers are darker red.     -   4. ‘Sidashar’ plants are taller than ‘Paris Rapa’.     -   5. ‘Sidashar’ plants produce roots faster than ‘Paris Rapa’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical blooming plant of ‘Sidashar’ grown in a greenhouse. The photograph was taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘Sidashar’ plants grown in a greenhouse in Brielle, The Netherlands from October 2005 to October 2006. The growing temperature ranged from 16° C. to 17° C. at night to 18° C. to 20° C. during the day. The pH of the growing medium was between 5.0 and 5.5. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical flowering types.

-   Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla cultivar ‘Sidashar.’

PROPAGATION

-   Time to rooting: 19 to 21 days at approximately 20° C. -   Root description: Fine, fibrous.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Flowering perennial shrub. -   Height: Approximately 45 cm. from soil level to the top of the     inflorescence. -   Blooming period: Naturally blooming April through September. -   Plant spread: Approximately 55.5 cm. -   Growth rate: Moderate. -   Branching characteristics: Moderately free branching. -   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 30.5 cm. -   Number of lateral branches: Approximately 9. -   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.9 cm. -   Pinching required: Yes. -   Details of pinching: The first pinch is given at 8 weeks from the     planting of a rooted cutting. A second pinch is given 12 weeks from     planting a rooted cutting. -   Lateral branch shape: Round. -   Lateral branch strength: Very strong. -   Lateral branch texture: Leathery. -   Lateral branch color: Approximately RHS Green 143A, slightly tinged     at the nodes with RHS Greyed-Purple 187D. -   Other stem or plant characteristics: Stems covered with lenticels at     a density of approximately 4 lenticels per square cm.     -   -   Lenticel length.—Approximately 0.25 cm.         -   Lenticel width.—Approximately 0.075 cm.         -   Lenticel color.—About RHS Greyed-Purple 186B. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Average 10. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 1 year.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Compound or single.—Single.         -   Average length.—Approximately 12.5 cm.         -   Average width.—Approximately 8.3 cm.         -   Shape of blade.—Broad oval to broad elliptic oblong.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Acuminate.         -   Attachment.—Stalked.         -   Margin.—Serrate, approximately 3 teeth per cm.         -   Texture of top surface.—Moderately glossy, non-pubescent.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Matte, non-pubescent.         -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 6.3 cm.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near R.H.S. Green 137B.             Young foliage under side: Near R.H.S. Green 138B. Mature             foliage upper side: Near R.H.S. Green 137A. Mature foliage             under side: Near R.H.S. Green 138B.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near             R.H.S. Yellow-Green 145B. Venation color under side: Near             R.H.S. Yellow-Green 145B.         -   Durability of foliage to stresses.—High. -   Petiole:     -   -   Average length.—Approximately 3.1 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Color.—Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 145B.

FLOWER

-   Bloom period:     -   -   Natural season.—Continuous April through September. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Arrangement.—Terminal.         -   Type.—Compound corymb.         -   Height.—Approximately 15.8 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 21.0 cm.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Fertile flowers,             approximately 180. Sterile Flowers, approximately 70. -   Bud:     -   -   Bud shape (sterile flowers).—Obovate.         -   Bud length (sterile flowers).—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Bud diameter (sterile flowers).—Approximately 0.3 cm.         -   Bud color (sterile flowers).—Near R.H.S. Red 52D.         -   Base/calyx.—Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 146C.         -   Bud shape (fertile flowers).—Globose.         -   Bud length (fertile flowers).—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Bud diameter (fertile flowers).—Approximately 0.6 cm.         -   Bud color (fertile flowers).—Near RHS Yellow-Green 154D.             Fertile flowers do not open. -   Flower:     -   -   Shape.—Rotate.         -   Facing direction.—All directions, with the majority facing             outward.         -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—250.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Approximately 2000.         -   Diameter of entire flower.—Fertile: Approximately 0.9 cm.             Sterile: Approximately 4.5 cm.         -   Depth of flower.—Fertile: Approximately 0.6 cm. Sterile:             Approximately 1.2 cm.         -   Rate of opening.—Individual flowers: Fully open             approximately 5 days from the bud stage. Fertile flowers do             not open. Whole Plant: Approximately 50% of flowers open at             once.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—Fertile flowers: Approximately 5             days. Sterile flowers: Approximately 35 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Persistent.         -   Fragrance.—No. -   Petals:     -   -   Length of petal.—Approximately 4.65 cm.         -   Width of petal.—Approximately 2.5 cm.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Shape of petal.—Ovate.         -   Petal margin.—Entire.         -   Petal arrangement.—Rotate.         -   Petal number.—Average 5.         -   Petals fused.—No.         -   Petal appearance.—Dull.         -   Petal texture (both surfaces).—Smooth. -   Color:     -   -   Upper surface at first opening.—Near Red-Purple 58D, base             Near Yellow 10D.         -   Upper surface at maturity.—Top Margin Near Red-Purple 58C,             base, 58D and Yellow 10D.         -   Upper surface at fading.—Near Red-Purple 58C, base, 58D and             Yellow 10D.         -   Under surface at first opening.—Near Red-Purple 58C, base             near Red-Purple 58D.         -   Under surface at maturity.—Near Red-Purple 58D, Top edge             Red-Purple 58B.         -   Under surface at fading.—Near Red-Purple 58C, base near             Red-Purple 58D. -   Petaloids: No. -   Fragrance: None.

CALYX

-   Present: Yes. -   Shape: Rotate, lower ⅔ fused. -   Length: Approximately 0.4 cm. -   Diameter: Approximately 0.5 cm.

SEPAL

-   Sepals: Only sterile flowers have sepals. Fertile flowers do not     open. -   Number: Average 5. -   Sepal texture (both surfaces): Smooth. -   Sepal arrangement: Rotate. -   Sepal length: Approximately 0.5 cm. -   Sepal width: Approximately 0.1 cm. -   Sepal shape: Deltoid. -   Base: Fused into a tube ⅔ of length. -   Apex shape: Acute. -   Margin: Entire. -   Color: Upper side near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 146C. Under side near     R.H.S. Yellow-Green 146C, base Yellow-Green 146D.

PEDUNCLE

-   Length: Approximately 7.8 cm. -   Diameter: Approximately 0.35 cm. -   Angle: Approximately 30 degrees (0 degrees=straight upright). -   Strength: Strong. -   Color: Near R.H.S. Yellow-Green 146B.

PEDICEL

-   Present: Yes. -   Length (sterile flowers): Approximately 2.0 cm. -   Diameter (sterile flowers): Approximately 0.15 cm. -   Angle (sterile flowers): Approximately 15 degrees. -   Strength (sterile flowers): Strong. -   Color (sterile flowers): Near White 155A, base Greyed-Purple 187C. -   Length (fertile flowers): Approximately 0.6 cm. -   Diameter (fertile flowers): Approximately 0.3 cm. -   Angle (fertile flowers): Approximately 10 degrees. -   Strength (fertile flowers): Moderate. -   Color (fertile flowers): Near Yellow-Green 154D.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   -   -   Number of pistils per flower.—3.         -   Pistil length.—Approximately 0.15 cm.         -   Stigma shape.—Lobed.         -   Stigma color.—Near Red-Purple 57D.         -   Style color.—Near Red-Purple 62D.         -   Style length.—Approximately 0.05 cm.         -   Ovary color.—Near Yellow-Green 154C.         -   Stamens.—Average 8.         -   Anther shape.—Broad kidney-shaped.         -   Anther size.—0.15 cm.         -   Anther color.—Near White 155A, filament colored Red-Purple             62C.         -   Pollen color.—Near White 155A.         -   Pollen quantity.—Very low.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to     diseases or pests has been observed in this variety. -   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Semi-hardy perennial, tolerant     of some high temperatures. Upper limit of temperature tolerance has     not been observed, however, known to tolerate temperatures of at     least up to 40° C. Lower limits have also not been observed,     however, observed hardy to −15° C. No drought tolerance has been     observed. -   Fruit/seed production: No fruits/seeds detected to date. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named ‘Sidashar’ as herein illustrated and described. 